Method and apparatus to reduce toilet splash using water current and turbulence

ABSTRACT

A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled includes a reservoir for holding the water, an air pump to pump air to the drain while the toilet is not being flushed nor filled, and an air pipe to pipe the air to the drain.

PRIORITY

The present invention claims priority under 35 USC section 119 and U.S. patent application 60/671, 652, filed on Mar. 16, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to create water current and water turbulence in a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Almost all of the homes located within the United States and most of the homes of the world include a toilet. These toilets have been used to dispose of liquid and solid waste from human beings. However, one problem associated with the use of these toilets has been the problem of splash. After a toilet has been used, the toilet is flushed in order to dispose of the liquid and solid waste. After the toilet has been flushed, the toilet and the toilet bowl refills with water in order to be used again. After the toilet bowl has been refilled, the water supply to the toilet will shut off, and the water in the toilet will become stationary. When the water is stationary, the surface tension of the water holds the water surface together. When liquid or solid waste is released into the still water of the toilet, the surface tension of the water breaks, and the water may splash onto the user or/and outside of the toilet, resulting in unsanitary conditions. More particularly, this toilet water may be filled with germs and small particles of liquid or solid waste. These germs could cause various infections in humans, and this condition can cause a very serious problem especially in public toilets where there are many users.

One way to solve this problem, individuals may place toilet paper in the toilet water before it is used to alleviate this problem.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,353 discloses a water closet having means to prevent splashing caused by the droppings of feces thereinto. This patent describes a water closet provided with the cross member immediately below the water level into which the feces will fall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,497 discloses a coated paper product which is shaped so as to conform with the shape of the exposed surface area of the water in the commode. This paper product helps eliminate the splash of the commode water upon the deposition of fecal matter on the surface of the paper. This solution requires that continual replacement of the coated paper product.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,718 discloses a plumbing system for flushing a toilet bowl having one or more high pressure nozzles disposed about the rim of the bowl. This system uses water to supply the high pressure nozzles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,105 discloses a self-cleaning toilet which embodies the combination of the open top toilet bowl the and an elevated reserve tank mounted above the bowl including a separate compartment for a biodegradable chemical or biological substance that can be stored, removed and mixed with water and supplied to the toilet bowl to clean, disinfect and deodorize the toilet bowl.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,846 discloses a spa system adapted for installation as part of the bathtub within the home.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,491 discloses a commode reducing or eliminating splash and noise by the creation of turbulence in the water bowl by using pressurized water streams. This patent does not show air exiting into the drain pipe after creating turbulence.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,752 discloses a sanitary device liquid circulation system including a water supply portion, an additive supply portion and an air supply portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,426 discloses a system for producing a water or fluid splatter shield across the top area of the toilet bowl, urinal or the like by supplying a fluid such as water or air under pressure to a nozzle, an angular ring type housing or pipe that is disposed about the top portion of the toilet bowl or urinal.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,339 discloses a device to create turbulence in water normally held motionless in a toilet in that splashing and splattering is suppressed when solids, liquid or the both our inserted in the traditional manner. This patent does not show air exiting into the drain pipe after creating turbulence.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,801 discloses a toilet system for reducing or eliminating the splash and noise including a floating object or deflector that is positioned at the surface of the water and which functions to deflect the fall of the waste material.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,786 discloses a toilet splash shielding system to prevent urine and waste from splashing out of the toilet bowl. The rim includes a bore extending therethrough and the bore is in communication with an air pump.

Additionally, GB 2 077 791 discloses and anti-splash device for the application in the water closet including a pan outlet which includes an anchored float extending over the trap water surface.

European Patent application 0 431 225 discloses a anti-liquid splash device for the water closet including flexible elongate floats extending from a support which includes attachment means for attachment to a wall. The elongate floats can be arranged to extend across essentially the entire surface of the liquid in the flow path of the water closet so as to deflect solid and fluid matter from immediate impact with a major part of the liquid surface.

Furthermore, WO 93/11312 discloses a splash preventer freely floating on the water surface of the flush space in which the preventer stops the falling material on its surface.

SUMMARY

The present invention eliminates the problems associated with still or stationary water in the toilet. The present invention protects the user from the splashing of water from the toilet by eliminating the still or stationary water and the associated breaking of the surface tension of the water. Additionally, the present invention aids in passing solid waste to the drain pipe. The present invention includes an air pump to create water current and turbulence in the toilet water. Furthermore, the present invention includes a switch to operate the air pump and to create the water current and turbulence when the toilet is not being flushed or filled with water. The switch may be automatically activated so that the toilet automatically creates the water current and turbulence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the toilet with an air pump to create the water current and turbulence;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the toilet with the air pump to create the water current and the turbulence;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the slotted and grooved air pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet 123 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The toilet 123 includes a toilet lid 119 to cover a reservoir 130 which includes water for the toilet 123 and drain 131 to drain the water for the toilet 123 and which is in communication with the reservoir 130. The reservoir 130 is generally defined by the toilet lid 119 and the mouth 127 of the toilet drain 131, and the drain 131 is generally defined by the mouth 127 of the toilet drain and drain pipe 126 which drains the water from the drain 131. Water enters the reservoir 130 through the flush tank valve 132 positioned at the bottom of the flush tank 118, and the flush tank 118 is filled with water through a valve connected to the public water system. The flush tank 118 is covered by a flush tank lid 116 which can be removed to access the flush tank 118. Normally, the flush tank 118 is only partially filled with water leaving a portion of the flush tank 118 which is filled with air. The air in the flush tank 118 is in communication with the outside environment.

FIG. 1 additionally shows the air pump 113 to pump air into the drain 131 of the toilet 123. The air pump 113 includes an air intake valve 115 to allow air to enter the air pump 113 and an outlet valve 114 to allow air to be transferred to the drain 131. The air pump 113 is shown as being connected to a power source 112 to supply the energy to operate the air pump 113. The power source 112 is shown as an electrical connection to be connected to in electrical outlet; other types of power source 112 are within the scope of the invention, for example a battery supply. FIG. 1 additionally shows a motion sensor 110 to detect when a user is using the toilet 123 and to activate the air pump 113 and a on/off switch 111 to manually activate the air pump 113. An air pipe 117 is connected between the outlet valve 114 of the air pump 113 and the drain 131 of the toilet 123 to allow air to be transmitted from the air pump 113 to the drain 131. The air pipe 117 may include grooves 125 which are shown as spiraling through the inside housing of the air pipe 117 and which causes the air to have turbulence as the air flows along the air pipe 117. It is within the scope of the present invention for the air pipe 117 to be connected to the reservoir 130 and below the water line. One end of the air pipe 117 may include a slotted nozzle 120 in order to increase the turbulence of the air as it exits the air pipe 117. FIG. 1 shows the eddy currents and turbulence 122 that flows in the reservoir 130 and the drain 131 inside the toilet 123. These eddy currents and turbulence 122 prevent the surface of the water from being still or stationary when the toilet 123 is not being flushed or filled with water and consequently prevents the associated splash with the still or stationary water.

As a user of the toilet 123 approaches the toilet 123, the motion sensor 110 detects the approaching user and activates the air pump 113, and the air pump 113 receives air through the air intake valve 115 and pumps the air to the outlet valve 114. The air is carried along the air pipe 117, and the air pipe 117 moves the air along the spiral grooves 125, resulting in the air having increased turbulence. The air leaves the air pipe 117 at the slotted nozzle 120, and as a result of the slotted nozzle 120, the pressure, swirl and turbulence of the air are increased. The air enters the drain 131 of the toilet 123 resulting in eddy currents and turbulence 122 in the water in both the drain 131 and the reservoir 130 to eliminate the still or stationary water when the toilet is not being flushed or filled with water.

FIG. 2 illustrates the air pump 113 of the present invention in conjunction with the toilet 123. When the motion sensor 110 detects the user of the toilet 123 or when the user of the toilet 123 activates the switch 111, the air pump 113 is activated, and air enters the inlet valve 115 and exits the outlet valve 114 traveling along the air pipe 117 and exits the air pipe 117 at the slotted nozzle 120. The air as it exits the slotted nozzle 120 creates the eddy current and turbulence 122 around the mouth 127 of the toilet drain which eliminates the still or stationary water surface while the toilet is not being flushed or filled with water. As a consequence, the user will not be splashed from liquid or solid waste.

FIG. 3 illustrates an end of the air pipe 117 including slot 124 which is in communication with the groove 125. The slot 124 provides additional turbulence for the air as it exits the air pipe 117.

The air exiting into the drain pipe 126 after creating turbulence provides a advantage.

If air is allowed to come out through the mouth of the drain or into the reservoir it may cause bad odor and unsanitary conditions.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled, comprising: a drain for holding said water; an air pump to pump air to said drain while said toilet is not being flushed nor filled; and an air pipe to pipe said air to said drain.
 2. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said toilet includes a motion sensor to detect a user of said toilet and to activate said air pump.
 3. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said toilet includes a switch to activate said air pump.
 4. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said air pipe includes a groove to create air turbulence.
 5. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said air pipe includes a slotted nozzle.
 6. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said air pipe includes a spiral groove.
 7. A toilet to create currents and turbulence in the water when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 1, wherein said air pump is connected to an electric power supply.
 8. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in a toilet when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled, comprising the steps of: holding said water in a drain; pumping air to said drain while said toilet is not being flushed nor filled; and piping said air to said drain.
 9. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in a toilet when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 8, wherein said method includes the step of detecting a user of said toilet and to begin said pumping step in response.
 10. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in a toilet when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 8, wherein the method includes switching a switch to activate an air pump.
 11. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in a toilet when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 8, wherein said toilet includes an air pipe which includes a groove to create air turbulence.
 12. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in it to the when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 11, wherein said air pipe includes a slotted nozzle.
 13. A method to create currents and turbulence in the water in the toilet when the toilet is not being flushed nor filled as in claim 11, wherein said air pipe includes a spiral groove. 